Over the past couple of years, our task force has noticed a troubling pattern in prescription drug abuse and diversion. Although I thought that the first large case was just an outlier, I should have known better. Trafficking was occurring across America, not just southwest Ohio.

The first case started in our local YMCA with a complaint about high school boys using anabolic steroids to bulk up for football and wrestling. After the introduction of our undercover officer, it was made clear very quickly that these medications, in both injectable and pill form, were ready for purchase. This original seller was low level at best, and we made a couple of buys and approached him for his supplier. [Read more…]

Recently, my task force completed a far-reaching case involving anabolic steroids. It started at our local YMCA with a couple of complaints of teenage athletes abusing the drug as they pumped up for football and other sports. The YMCA could not have been more cooperative, as they didn’t want this activity in their facility any more than law enforcement did.

I thought I was the perfect fit to do the undercover work, but my detectives persuaded me otherwise! Fortunately, we had an ATF agent who worked on our task force and fit the build for this operation. Penetrating these covert illegal operations, which generally find willing participants in local fitness centers and gyms nationwide, is not necessarily easy. [Read more…]